The peace process will gather fresh momentum this week with the LTTE preparing to visit Paris to discuss the Government's Interim Administration (IA) proposals while Norway's Special Envoy Eric Solheim arrives in the island to have decisive talks on the Wan Ela camp issue.

The LTTEkilled a Tamil informant, Shanmuganathan Pillai Vivekanandan Rajan, at Akkaraipattu. He was shot dead by two persons who came on a motorcycle. He is the 21st person involved with intelligence services to die at the hands of the LTTE since the signing of a ceasefire agreement in February 2001 upto May this year

The government released a group of over 2,500 selected prisoners to pay tribute to Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of her birthday anniversary, which falls on 12 August, as Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra urged the released prisoners to change his behaviours and never to return to 'evil paths'.

The funeral of Veteran Tamil journalist Kalasuri R. Sivagurunathan who served the Tamil daily "Thinakaran" of Lake House as Chief Editor for more than three decades was held yesterday evening at Kanatte cemetery, Borella. Mr Sivugurunathan passed away early morning last morning after a brief illness in Colombo at the age of seventy-two.

Faced with strong condemnation of its midnight demolition of Seerani Arangam, an open air gallery on the sands of Marina, Saturday night, the Tamil Nadu Government today defended the action saying the structure was pulled down as it spoiled the beauty of the famous beach besides becoming a home to anti-social activists.

The ministry of defence has staunchly refused to part with a report of the Central Vigilance Commission but the most sensitive of issues dogging George Fernandes — the charge that cash was made over the dead of Kargil in a deal to import coffins — has been noted by the Public Accounts Committee.

President Charles Taylor delivered a farewell address to a nation bloodied by 14 years of war, declaring himself "the sacrificial lamb" to end what he said was a U.S.-backed rebel war against his besieged regime.